Purpose : This study aimed to investigate two on problems on HRQOL of patients with diabetes, Time Trade-Off method was used. First, why would out-patients trade their remaining life with disease for a short life without disease? Second, what factors affect the patient's preference of the health state (TTO values)?
Method : One hundred out-patients with diabetes were recruited from the out-patients clinic in a general hospital. Patients were asked individually about each item of TTO. The TTO value was measured.
Results : (1) 44.3% of patients would be willing to trade their life-time with disease for the life-time without disease (Trade-Off Group), but 55.7% of patients would not be willing to do so (No Trade-Off Group). (2) The mean TTO value of the Trade-Off Group was 0.43±0.31. (3) The number of patients with physical disabilities and negative feelings about daily life in the Trade-Off Group were significantly greater than those in the No Trade-Off Group (p<.01). (4) There were no differences in the numbers of insulin-treated patients and the mean scores of HbA _1c% between the Trade-Off group and the No Trade-Off group. (5) The TTO values of patients with complications were significantly lower in comparison with those of the patients without complications (p<.01). (6) Some social reasons were recognized for the preference of the health state of the two groups.
Conclusion : The present study found some new findings and suggested necessary cares for HRQOL in patients with diabetes. However, it is necessary to further investigate the influence of social factors on the TTO value and HRQOL.